Automobile traffic signal



Dec. 4, 1928.

W. J. KRAMER AUTOMOBILE TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed June 6, 192'? Patented Dec. 4, 1928. v

UNITED STATES WILLIAM J. KRAMER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

AUTOMOBILE TRAFFIC SIGNAL.

Application filed June 6,

This invention relates to a certain new and useful improvement in automobile traffic signals and has for its chief object the provision of a simple, compact and inexpensive attachment which may be readily mounted upon the car and which comprises a swingable arm that may be conveniently selectively actuated to indicate or signal the occupants of following cars or trafiic that the automobile or car equipped with my new signaling device or attachment is about to stop or slacken speed or to turn to the right or to the left, as the case may be.

And with the above and other objects in view, my present invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a fragmental plan view in outline of an automobile equipped with a signaling attachment embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view partly broken away and in section of the attachment or device with the signaling-arm in stop or slacken speed position as in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the attachment with the housing in longitudinal section and with the signaling-arm in the same position as in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view on approximately the line 44, Figure 2; and

Figures 5 and (S are similar views taken approximately on the lines 55, Figure 6, and (S-6, Figure 2, respectively.

Referring now more in detail and by reference characters to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention, 1 designates a preferably tubular or pipe-bar section, conjoined or otherwise fixed upon the opposite ends of which in preferably eccentrically disposed arrangement, are disks 2, 3, apertured in registration with the bore of pipe-bar 1. Fitting longitudinally within the pipe-bar 1, 1s a tubular shaft 4 held to the bar 1 by means of a set-screw or the like 5. p

The shaft 4 atits ends projects outwardly of the disks 2, 3, and mounted on the one or left -hand end of shaft 4, is a cylindrical block 6 having a bore 7 disposed transversely to the bore of shaft 4. Having a tubular-extension 8 fitting for rotation in the bore 70f block 6, is a cylindrical head 9, adapted at its end-face 10 to abut against the end-face 11 of block 6, for purposes shortly appearing. In

1927. Serial No. 196,836..

tegral with or otherwise fixed to, and projectlng radially of the periphery of, head 9, is a suitably elongated tubular bar or arm 12. Mounted upon the outer or free end of arm 12, is a socket 13 for an electric lamp-bulb or the like 14, and disposed for removaliupon thearm' 12 to house the bulb 14 and its socket 13, 18 a suitable, preferably decorative or attractive, casing 15 provided upon opposed sides with suitable lenses or the like 16, 16, one of which is preferably adapted to display extension 8 is of a length relatively to the bore 7 of block 6 to project outwardly beyond the opposite end-face of block 6, and disposed upon such projecting end of the extension 8, is the hub of a suitable sprocketwheel 17, a tapered pin or the like 18, fitted in the wheel 17, and extension 8, as best seen in Figure 3, functioning to both detachably secure the extension 8 and wheel 17 together for unitary rotation and the extension 8 and its head 9 and carried arm 12 operatively to the block 6. I

Disposed upon, and by means of set-screws or the like 19 secured to, the other or righthand end of shaft 4, is a block20 apertured,as at 21, in alignment with the bore of shaft 4 and cut away, as at 22, to include spaced bearings 23, 23, for a shaft 24. Disposed on the color red. As best seenin Figure 2, headshaft 24 intermediate the bearings 23, 23,

and in alignment with Wheel 17, and secured on shaft 24 as by means of a set-screwor the like 25, is a companion sprocket-wheel 26 having driving connection with wheel 17 by means of a chain or the like 27. Having suitable connection with shaft 24, as best seen in Figure2, is an actuating handwheel 28.

Formed in the end face 10 of head 9, is an annularly disposed series of suitably spaced pockets 29, preferably four in number, adapted to co-operatively seat a spring-pressed ball. 30 disposed in the adjacent end-face 11 of block 6; and also formed in the said head end-face 10, is an annularly disposed groove or way 31, with the end-walls of which a pin 32 projecting from said block end-face 11 is adaptedto engage to limit the rotatory actuations of head 9 and its carried signaling arm 12. 1

Having one end electrically connected to one side of a battery or other source of current 33 carried by the automobile A and its other end grounded upon the car, is a con ductor 34; and leading from the other side of battery 33, passed through the block 20, i

shaft 4, head 9, and arm 12, and electrically connected to the socket 13, is a second conductor 35. Having one end grounded on the car A and its other end electricall connected to an insulated contact 36 mountec on the forward bearing-block 23, is a third conductor 37. Also mounted on said forward bearingblock 23, is a spring or other suitable yieldjug-member 38 normally out of electrical en-v gagementwith the contact 36, but adapted, when urged on rotatory actuation of sprocket 26 and by means of a cam-face 39 on the adj acent end of wheel 26, for engagement with the contact 36 to metallically complete the circuit for energizing the lamp 14.

In use and operation, the device as a whole is rigidly, as by means of a securing-member 40, having threaded connection with a boss 41 on the pipe-bar 1, disposed horizontally upon the car A preferably to the front of the instrument boardB and so located that the arm 12 will, when in a swung or abnormal position, project outwardly beyond the side plane of the car. As so located, the handwheel 28 conveniently accessible by the cardriver, as seen in Figure 1, and preferably detachably enclosing the working parts of the signal and supported by the disks 2, 3, is a suitable protective housing 42.

Normally, the arm 12 is in the upright straight ahead osition thereof illustrated fragmentally in igure 5, the limitingpin 32 being in engagement with one end Wall of groove 31, and the arm 12 being releasably retained in such position under engagement between the yielding ball or sphere 30 with a companion ocket 29. When the arm 12 is in such position, the spring 38 is out of engagement with the contact 36 and the circuit to the lamp 14 is broken.

Should now the driver desire to signal. following cars or traflic that he is about to turn to the right, or to stop or slacken speed, or to turn to the left, as the case may be and as one would in the present-day conventional method of arm-signaling, the wheel 28 is grasped and turned to the left, whereby, through the chain-connected wheels 26 and 17, the arm 12 is selectively swung or shifted accordingly, as indicated by dot-and-dash lines in Figure 5, and similarly releasably retained in such selected position under engagement between the yielding sphere 30 and the successive pockets 29, the full thrown or lowermost signaling position of arm 12 being limited by engagement of the pin 32 with the opposite end wall of the groove 31. Promptly, however, as the arm 12 is actuated out of normal position, the spring 38 is de pressed by the sprocket cam-face 39 to engage the contact 36 to close the energizing circuit to the lamp 14, the circuit being so maintained in closed condition until the arm '12 is again returned to normal position, which may be readily and conveniently efiected through reverse actuation of the hand-wheel 28.

My new signaliiig attachment is simple and inexpensive in form and construction, may be readily mounted upon the automobile, and is exceedingly convenient and eflicient in performance of its intended functions.

I am aware that changes in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the attachment may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patout is:

1. In an automobilesignaling attachment, a bored block, head having an end face in opposed relation to an end face of the block and having reduced extension fitting for rotatory movement in the bore of the block, a signaling arm carried by the head, means for selectively effecting rotatory actuations of the head, and co-operating means on the opposed end faces of the head and block for y1eldingly retaining the head in rotarily actuated positions.

2. In an automobile signaling-attachment, a bored block, a head having an end face in opposed relation to an end face of the block and having a reduced extension fitting for rotatory movement in the bore of the block, a signaling arm carried by the head, means for selectively effecting rotatory actuations of the head, and co-operating means including an arcuate series of pockets and a springpressed sphere on the opposed end faces of the head and block for yieldingly retaining the head" in rotarily actuated positions.

3. In an automobile signaling-attachment, a tubular body-member, disks fixed eccentrically upon the opposite ends of the bodymember and apertured in registration with the bore thereof, a longitudinal shaft projecting through the body'member and disks, a block mounted upon one end of the shaft, a head mounted for rotation upon said block and disposed transversely to the shaft, an arm carried by the head, a sprocket-wheel conjoined to the head, a second block mounted upon the other end of the shaft, a second SPIOClKOt-WllGQl mounted for rotation upon the second block in aligning registration with the first SPIOUlIOt-WllGQl, driving means having connection with the sprockets, and a housing fitted upon and supported on the disks. the housing wholly enclosing the body-memher, disks, shaft, sprocket-wheels, and driving means.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM J. KRAMER. 

